The UFC’s lightweight champion survived a few precarious submission attempts from challenge Nate Diaz, but dominated the striking battle on his way to a unanimous decision win and the second defense of his title. Henderson won with scores of 50-43 – getting two 10-8 rounds from one judge – and a pair of 50-45s.

The light heavyweight bout was part of the main card of Saturday’s UFC on FOX 5 event at Seattle’s KeyArena. It aired on FOX following prelims on FX and Facebook.

“It’s just a matter of being well-prepared and being in the gym as much as possible,” Henderson said. “All these guys want to talk about being fighters and they train this hard, and Nate obviously trains his butt off, he’s freaking tough as heck. But at the MMA Lab in Glendale, Ariz., that’s what we’re all about.”

Henderson worked leg kicks right out of the gate, and that would prove to be the theme of the fight for him as he looked to keep Diaz at a distance to minimize his six-inch reach advantage and a standout boxing game.

A sturdy leg kick from Henderson took Diaz’s legs out from under him at the 1:20 mark, and he landed a few shots on the ground before being content to let Diaz back to his feet. With 30 seconds left, Henderson landed his best punching combination of the round, popping Diaz’s head back before the two clinched up as the round came to a close.

Henderson started quicker in the second, landing an early takedown and a few more leg kicks before again heading into a clinch battle – where he could keep Diaz from his strength in the boxing game. Henderson worked in a pair of good over-the-top elbows in tight quarters, and when Diaz did get an opportunity to box, Henderson continued to go after his lead leg.

With two minutes left in the round, Henderson followed a pair of low strikes – aimed at Diaz’s lead knee – with a big left hand that sent Diaz going backward before the champion could get to the floor for more point-scoring opportunities. With 30 seconds left, Diaz finally was able to get a short hip-toss throw. But Henderson was up quickly.

Diaz tried to exert some kind of striking attack in the third, but it resulted, ultimately, in Henderson planting for a takedown. Though Diaz looked for any kind of submission on the ground, Henderson quickly was out. He willingly went back to the floor seconds later and appeared to be too strong for Diaz.

But Diaz rolled for a knee bar, followed by a toe hold. But when Henderson scrambled out, he briefly took Diaz’s back – before again going back in where Diaz could hope for a leg submission of any kind. But Henderson wisely backed out with 75 seconds left in the round and went back to his feet.

Just as Diaz was gesturing to Henderson, though, the champ landed a big right hand that planted the challenger. He followed it to the ground and landed a few more strikes – all while Diaz kept looking for a leg to tear at. Henderson delivered an axe kick to Diaz’s midsection just before the round closed.

In the fourth, Henderson landed his fifth takedown of the fight, and when Diaz got back up, he was taken down again as Henderson moved first into side control, then looked to take Diaz’s back. Henderson continued to dominate the striking game on the ground, and his strength ultimately kept Diaz from capitalizing on any submissions he may have wanted.

Ninety seconds into the fifth, Henderson picked Diaz up for a big slam and on the ground he again looked to assert some control in the striking department – and the early totals for Henderson’s significant strikes against Diaz were a record for any fighter against the Stockton, Calif., native. A head kick from Henderson with a minute left was good measure for the champion, who was dominant throughout.

Henderson (18-2 MMA, 6-0 UFC) defended his title for the second time since winning the belt against Frankie Edgar this past February. He kept it in their rematch this past August at UFC 150. He remains perfect in the UFC. Diaz (16-8 MMA, 7-6 UFC) had a three-fight win streak snapped and now heads back into the middle of the crowded lightweight pack.

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